UCDA Grade Specifications
Uganda Coffee Grades
Complete reference for all UCDA export-grade classifications. Screen sizes, defect tolerances, moisture specifications, and indicative prices for Robusta and Arabica grades, all in one dashboard view.
Robusta Export Grades
| Grade | Screen Size | Defect Allowance | Moisture % | Price (US¢/kg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAQ SC18 Premium | 18/64 in ~7.14 mm |
< 5% | < 12.5% | 212.60 | Premium export grade. Largest robusta beans. Preferred for espresso blends. ~25% of Uganda robusta exports. |
| FAQ SC15 | 15/64 in ~5.95 mm |
< 8% | < 12.5% | 205.40 | Standard benchmark grade. ~45% of exports. The reference price for Uganda robusta. Widely traded globally. |
| HB SC12 | 12/64 in ~4.76 mm |
< 12% | < 13% | 198.20 | Hard bean. Smaller screen. Used in soluble/instant coffee production and lower-cost roaster blends. |
| FAQ | Mixed | < 12% | < 13% | 192.80 | Fair Average Quality. Ungraded robusta. Sold to local processors and regional markets (Sudan, Kenya, DRC). |
| BHP | Mixed | < 15% | < 14% | 186.50 | Bold Heavy Parchment. Lowest export grade. Bulk shipments to price-sensitive markets (India, North Africa). |
How screen sizing works: Coffee beans are sorted through perforated screens measured in 64ths of an inch. Screen 18 allows beans 18/64 inch (~7.14 mm) and larger through. Larger screens = larger beans = higher price. Uganda's robusta beans are naturally larger than Vietnamese robusta, giving them a quality advantage in international markets. FAQ stands for Fair Average Quality, the standard classification used across East African coffee trade.
Arabica Export Grades, Mt. Elgon / Bugisu
| Grade | Screen Size | Defect Allowance | Moisture % | Price (US¢/kg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bugisu AA Specialty | Screen 17+ | < 3% | < 12% | 298.50 | Top grade. Largest beans, lowest defects. Winey acidity, full body, chocolate notes. 85+ cupping score. |
| Bugisu A | Screen 15/16 | < 5% | < 12% | 285.20 | Second grade. Clean cup, well balanced. Main export grade for European specialty roasters. |
| Bugisu B | Screen 14+ | < 8% | < 12.5% | 272.80 | Third grade. Smaller beans, more defects. Suitable for blends and mid-tier retail chains. |
| Bugisu PB Peaberry | Peaberry | < 3% | < 12% | 310.00 | Peaberry, single round bean per cherry. Often commands a premium over AA. Intense, concentrated flavour. Rare – ~5% of crop. |
| Wugar | Mixed | < 12% | < 13% | 265.40 | Washed Uganda Arabica. Washed process but ungraded. Earthier flavour profile. Lower cost alternative to Bugisu grades. |
| Drugar | Mixed | < 15% | < 13% | 258.00 | Dry Uganda Arabica. Natural/sun-dried process. Used in blends and instant coffee. Lowest Arabica export grade. |
Mt. Elgon Arabica: Uganda's Arabica is grown at 1,300–2,300 m on the slopes of Mt. Elgon in eastern Uganda. The volcanic soil and high altitude produce distinctive winey, fruity notes with a full body. Bugisu Arabica is named after the region and the Bagisu people who cultivate it. Production is ~1.2 million bags annually, primarily by smallholder farmers with plots averaging 0.5–2 hectares. PB (Peaberry) occurs when only one bean develops inside the coffee cherry instead of the usual two, these round beans are hand-sorted and prized for their concentrated flavour.
Local Market / Farmgate Grades
| Grade | Form | Price (UGX/kg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabica Parchment | Washed, dried in parchment | 13,800 | Delivered to Kampala. Wet-processed, ready for dry milling and export grading. |
| Robusta FAQ Clean | Cleaned, graded | 9,600 | Ready for export. Cleaned and sorted to FAQ standard. Most common farmgate transaction grade. |
| Robusta FAQ Kiboko | Unhulled, dried | 8,200 | Farmgate price. Sun-dried in husk (kiboko). Requires hulling and grading before export. |
| Drugar (Local) | Natural / sun-dried | 7,800 | Dry-process Arabica. Local market grade. Sold at rural buying stations across growing regions. |
Farmgate vs. Export price: The farmgate price is what farmers receive at the local buying station for parchment or kiboko. The export price (FOB) adds milling, transport, port handling, documentation, and UCDA certification costs, typically 35–45 US¢/kg above farmgate equivalent. Use the FOB Calculator to estimate your total export cost for any grade. Track the live spread between farmgate and export prices on the Price Spread Tracker.